Turbine installation



Aug. 5, 1924.

J. H. Fr-:LTHOUSEN TURBINE INSTALLATION Original Filed Dec. 20. l919 3 Sheets-Sheet, 1

J. H. FELTHOUSEN,

TURBINE INSTALLATION avanzi s sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 20. 191.9

kil

ug. 5 1924. Y 1,504,113

J. H. FELTHOUSEN TURBINE INSTALLATI ON Original Filed Dec. 20. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

JOI-IN H. FELTHOUSEN, DECEASED, LATE OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA; BY BIRDIE J'. FELTHOUSEN, ADMINJISTRATRIX, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIG-NOR TO S. MORGAN SMITH COMPANY, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

TURBINE 'INSTALLATION'.

October 30, 1923.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be' it known that JOHN H. FELTHoUsEN, now deceased, formerly a citizen of the United States, lately residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, BIRDIE J. FELT'HoUsEN administratrix of the estate of the said JOHN I-I. FnLTHoUsEN, did during his lifetimel invent certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine Installaw tions, of which tlre following is a specifican tion.

This invention relates to turbine installations, and particularly to a structure providing for disposition of increased power f5 turbine wheels ina flume having restricted dimensions or side walls, which cannot be decreased in thickness to enlarge' the width of the flume to receive the usual form of supply scroll. At the present time there are a number of dum-e structures comprising a plurality of lumes in parallel relation, separated by partition walls of a thickness to sustain the water pressure without liability of breaking` through, and having installed therein turbine wheels of comparatively low power, and in other structures the iiumcs are located under supersti-uctures and serve as parts of the foundation supporting means 'and will not admit of width enlargement without impairing and weakening the foundation, and consequently, seriously affecting the superstructures thereolver. In these eX- isting restricted and limited fiume structures it is frequently desirable to substitute 1ncreased power turbine wheels for turbine wheels of a' much lower' power, to utilize the waiter' power' tov the fullest extent and greatest eicienc'y. In all ofthe substitute installations of this' character the increased 40 power turbine wheels will be installed at a proper elevea'lti'on for minimum' head, and the relative velocities thereof are not affected by a change of head. By the installation embodying the features of the inventon the water is supplied to the wheel gates from one direction and always'iows in the same direction over the turbine wheel and enters the wheel gates at different peripheral points with the Velocity lele.-A

Divided and this application led Serial No. 671,782.

tively to the number of wheel gates supplied, so that the water supplied to the upstream portion of the gates will not affect the downstream portion of the gates, or substantially each half of the wheel will be separately supplied. The invention further contemplates an installation whereby with the same head of water the inlet to the turbine or wheel is effected at opposite points, with uniform velocity relatively to the num- `ber of gates supplied. More specifically, and as a preferred organization embodying the features of the invention, parts of complete scroll inlets or water supplies are used with the same maximum efficiency that would be derived by the use of al complete scroll if the use of the latter water supply or inlet means was permissible.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross sectional elevation of a turbine and usual accessories embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2, Fig. l, showing parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

This application embodies subject-matter divided out of the application of John H. Felthousen, deceased, Serial No. 846,253, filed December 20, 1919, and now Patent No. 1,489,994, April 8, 1924.

The numeral 5 designates a fiume, 6` the runner or vertically disposed type of wheel secured as usual to the lower end of a power shaft 7, and 8 the usual wheel gates, which are'operated by well known means to open and c'lose the same as may be found necessary. The ruimer or wheel 6 discharges into a draft tube 9, which' may be of any approved type. The frame or enclosing casing l0 for the turbine or wheel asi shown is of the usual construction. All of these parts are well known and form no part of the present invention, being shown solely to demonstrate the practicability of the features of the invention. The turbine installation illustrated by the drawings is also shown as having a generator 11 directly connected to, or operatively associated with, the turbine or power shaft 7 and gate operating means consisting of a shaft 12 attached to the usual gate ring 13 and actuating means 14 is also shown, the generator 11 and actuating means 14 being disposed on a generator floor 15. The generator is not included in the features of improvement, being illustrated simply to indicate a complete turbine structure or installation as adopted in modern organizations of this character.

The improved features of t-he invention as shown are preferably produced by the use of concrete or cement material in the flume, but it is intended to construct the improved features of other material, one of the main objects being to extend the improved structure from one side wall to the other side wall of the fiume. The improvement resides essentially in a double partial scroll inlet, consisting of two partial scroll units 1'6 and 17 in reverse positions, and usable with water continually flowing in one direction thereto and over the same, .the water being prevented from passing down through the top portion of the wheel casing or indiscriminately around the peripheral edge of the casing to the wheel gates. The concrete -or cement structure 18, in which the reversely arranged partial scroll units 16 and 17 are formed, is provided with front and rear horizontally disposed projecting ledges 19 and 20, which overhang` the inlets to the scroll units 16 and 17 below the same, these ledges forming the top closures or walls for t-he scroll unit inlets. In the center of the concrete or cement structure 13 a space 21v is formed, and therein the wheel or runner 6 together with the casing 10 and gates 8 are disposed and supported and held in operatively fixed position over the draft tube 9 with the shaft 7 ext-ending upwardly through the center of said space, as shown by Fig. 1. Each of the partial scroll units 16 and 17 is hollow and has a scroll-like interior contour continuing regularly from the maximum dimensions at the inlet 22 thereof to the terminal 23 of minimum dimensions. The terminals 23, as clearly shown in full and dotted lines by Fig. 2, are angular `and continue inwardly fully to the periphery of the wheel, or to the gate openings of the casing, and serve as separating partitions.

to prevent the water flowing into different portions of the wheel from taking any other course than that particularly provided in accordance with the features of the invention. The inlet of the unit .16 under the ledge 19 faces the upstream direction of flow of the water, andthe inlet of the unit 17 is in the rear and receives the water thereinto in a downstream flowing direction,

the entrance of the water into the inlets of these units being clearly indicated by the arrows 24E and 25 and which show that the water enters the wheel gates at all points around the wheel periphery in the direction of rotation of the wheel runner. The water, always flowing in the same direction, enters the wheel gates at opposite points with proportionate volume and uniform velocit relatively to the number of gates supplie so that there is no retardation of operation of the wheel at any part thereof, with the advantageous result that t-he full power of the waterv flowing continually in one direction to and over the units 16 and 17 and the wheel is conserved within the restricted width of the fiume, which will not permit of an enlargement sufficient for installation of the usual complete scroll supply structure forming part of high power wheels.

The concrete structure 18, or the analogous covering element of whatever material used that extends from one side wall to the other of theflume, may be of suitable length, but in all formations the rear edge of the ledge 20 will be located ata distance in advance of the rear end wall 26 of the flume, so as to permitthe water that Hows over this covering element and the top ofthe casing 10 of the turbine to have a free passage downwardly to the inlet of the rear partial scroll unit 17 The covering element in which thev turbine is disposed will also be at such elevation above the bottom of the flume as to produce a maximum supply of water through both` partial scroll units 16 and 17. Moreover, the partial scroll units 16 and 17 are of the same general dimensions, so that the number of wheel gates that'are open to each unit will be supplied with a like quantity of water. It will also be seen that the terminal 23 of each partial scroll unit has opposed concave surfaces 23a and 23", and

that the one terminal or angular partition' 23 is located in advance of the other, to i effect the partial scroll formation of the two units 16 and 17 having eqiul dimensions. It will further be seen that one-half of the gates 8 are open for supply in each scroll unit and that thefwater entering the 1;

unit 16 and supplying the forward group of gates cannot reach, and doesnot in the least affect, the rear group of gates to which the water is supplied through the rear partial scroll unit 17. By this meansthe i runner or wheel 6 is caused to rotate continuously in one direction, the speed of rotation of, and the power generated by, the runner being materially augmented by the water separatelyl entering the forwardv and rear groups of gates:

The water passing downwardly ithrough the runner 6 is discharged as usual into the draft tube 9 and carried away any distance from the fiume, or deposited in a pit, race or other conveying means, and it will-be under-4 stood that any form of'drafttube adapted for fthe purpose may be used.

As an incidental and advantageous feature of construction, a cover or partition plate 27 is applied above thewheel space or seat 2l between the units 1,6 and 17, or over the' top oit the turbine casing, as shownv by Figs. l and 3, this plate being removed in F ig. 2. The purpose of this horizontal cover or partition plate 27 is toprevelnt the water :trom eddying' or churning' over and adjacent to the top o't thewheel casing or housing.

The preferred form of the installation has been particularly described as especially adapted for disposition in a flume wherein the'water continually io'ws in one direction, as for instance, towards the end.l wall 26. of the flume, but it is intended to install this partial scroll supply means in reasonable and permissible equivalent forms in other water supplytlumes or the like wherein the water may not flow in one direction and to which the improvements may be operatively applicable, i l

What is claimed as new is:

l. In a turbine installation, the combination with a flume, of a wheel organization having' water operated driving means, and a closure structure extending fully across the flume between the side walls thereof and having the wheel organization enclosed therein, the wheel organization and closure structure being submerged in the flume, the said closure structure being provided with reversely arranged partial scroll units cooperating4 with the front and rear portions of the said driving means for controlling a proportional sup-ply of water to diiterent portions of the driving means to maintain free rotation of the latter in one direction.

2. In a turbine installation, the combination with a flume, ort a wheel organization having rotating driving means and controlling gates for the latter, and a closure structure extending fully across the flume from one side wall to' the other and over which the water flows and having the wheel or` ganization disposed therein, said closure structure being provided with reversely arf ranged supply inlet means at the front and rear portions of the wheel organization and completely enclosing portions of the periphery of the said organization for contro-lling proportional entrance of water in reverse directions relatively to the gates and driving means to maintain a free and uniform rotation ofthe driving means in one direction, the water being caused to liow downwardly and forwardly in 'entering the rear inlet means.

3.`In a turbine installation, the combination with a thune, of a horizontally disposed closure structure extending fully across from one side wall to the other side wall of the flume and having a wheel organization with a rotating water operated driving' means therein and controlling gates for the said driving means, the said closure being provided with reverse-ly arranged supply inlets at the front and rear with portions of the closure' overhanging the same and completely enclosing portions oit' the periphery of the wheel organization for controlling entrance ot the water proportionally through different groups of the gates to maintain a free and uniform rotation of the driving means in one direction.

In a turbine installation, the combination with a flume, of a horizontally disposed closure structure extending' across the flume from one side wall to the other of the latter and having a wheel organization with rotary water operated driving means disposed therein, the closure structure having front and rear separated partial scroll inlets completely enclosing opposite portions of the periphery of the wheel organization to effect a proportional inlet ot water to different pcripheral portions of the wheel in reverse directions and preventing the water from one inlet affecting' the water ot the other inlet, the water entering the front inlet in a torward direction and the water entering the rear inlet being caused to flow downwardly and forwardly.

5. The combination with a fiume, of a closure structure extending across the flume from one sidewall to the other of the latter and having a wheel organization with rotary water operated driving means disposed therein, the closure structure being provided with means for completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the wheel organization and separating and reversely directing the water into said peripheral portions.

6. The combination with a iiume., ot a horizontal closure structure extending 'fully across the width ot the 'flume and having a turbine installed therein and also provided with overhanging front and rear ledges and means for completely enclosing and separating different peripheral portions of the tur bine and directing and supplying the water thereinto with the same velocity relatively to the said different peripheral portions ot the turbine.

7. The combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending fully across the width of the flume and having a turbine installed therein, one end of the closure structure being spaced a distance from the end wall of the iiume so that the water may flow over the structure and turbine installation to the rear of the latter, the closure structure having supply inlet means completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine and directing and supplying the water thereinto with the same velocity relatively to the said different peripheral portions of the turbine.

8. The combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending across the width of the fiume below the water level of the latter and having a turbine with discharge means installed therein, the closure structure having supply inlet means completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine and directing and supplying water thereinto with the same velocity relatively to the said different peripheral portions of the turbine.

9. The combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending across the width of the flumebelow the water level in the latter and terminating a distance from the end wall of the fiume to form a passage for the downward course of the water, the closure structure having a turbine with discharge means installed therein and also having supply inlet means completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine and directing and supplying water thereinto with the same velocity relatively to the said different peripheral portions of the turbine.

10. lThe combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending across the width of the flume below the level of the water in the latter and having a turbine with discharge means installed therein, the said structure having front and rear overhanging ledges adjacent to reversely disposed supply inlet means completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine to regularly direct and supply the water with the same velocity relatively to the said different peripheral portions of the turbine.

11. The combination with a fiume, of a submerged turbine having a runner and discharge means, the turbine being enclosed by a horizontal closure extending fully across the width of the flume, said closure being provided with front and rear overhanging ledges and reversely arranged water inlet means across the front and rear portions of the periphery of the turbine, the front and rear inlet means being separated by inwardly projecting portions of the flume located at opposite sides of the closure, the said closure also completely enclosing different portions of the periphery of the turbine to direct and supply the water to the two inlets in uniform quantity and velocity to operatively engage opposite parts of the turbine. i

12. The combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending fully across the width of the flume in a horizontal plane and formed at the front and rear with reversely arranged partial supply scrolls separated from one another by opposite side inwardly projecting portions of the flume, and a turbine including a runner and draft tube inl stalled wit-hin and enclosed by the said strucand completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine for properly directing and supplying the water to the latter, each partial scroll supply inlet means being provided with an inwardly extending converging partition for separating both scroll inlet supply means.

14C. The combination with a fiume, of a closure structure extending across the width of the flumevbelow the water level of the latter and having a turbine with discharge means lcentrally installed therein, the closure structure having partial scroll supply inlet means in reverse positions relatively to and completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine for properly directing and supplyingthe water to the latter, each partial scroll supply inlet means being provided with aninwardlyextending converging partition for 4separating both scroll inlet supply means, the one partition being in advance of the other.

15. rl`he combination with a flume, of a closure structure extending fully across the width of the flume and having a turbine with discharge means installed and enclosed therein, the turbine being provided with a runner and a plurality of 4gates to control the entrance of water into the runner, the closure structure having kspirally arranged supply inlet means completely enclosing different peripheral portions of the turbine and directing and supplying the water in separated and equal quantities and with the same velocity to the same number of gates and uniformly guidingthe water in the direction of rotation of the runner. 16. In a turbine installation, the combination with a fiume having a rear closed wall, of horizontally disposed means extending across the fiume from one sidewall to the other thereof and terminating at its rear portion a distance from the rear closed wall of the fiume, the said means having opposed reversely arranged partial scros at the front and rear thereof separated from one another byinwardly projecting side portions of the flume, and a wheel organization having water operated driving means located within the said means and opposite portions thereof exposed to they partial scrolls, the said horizontally disposed meansand wheel organization being submerged in the flume and the water flowing towards the rear Closed wall entering the front of the wheel organization and the portion of the water flowing over the said horizontally clisposed means and wheel organization passing downwardly in the space between the rear terminal of the said horizontally disposed means and the end wall of the Hume and flowing forwardly into the rear portion of the wheel organization.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BIRDIE J. FELTHOUSEN, Admz'm'stmt 0] the estate of Jom H.

Felthousen, deceased. 

